CULTURAL OPULENCE OF RUSSIA June 09’ 19 – Sunday Arrive in Moscow, meet your private English-speaking guide at the Arrivals Hall, board your deluxe bus. Transfer to hotel. Check-in Welcome dinner at one of the best local restaurants June 10’ 19 – Monday This morning we plan to take you on a special backstage tour of the world famous Bolshoi Theater Special backstage tour of Bolshoi theater On this day we offer exclusive visit to the backstage of Bolshoi theater the major cultural and historical brand of Moscow and Russia. It is one of the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies of the world. The tour starts from the main entrance where you can admire the restored facades and the renovated symbol of the Bolshoi Theatre – the famous Appolo in a quadriga, created by a sculptor Peter Klodt. Through the central entrance hall you’ll proceed to the auditorium which has regained its authentic historical appearance. And like the 19th century theatergoer, at present every spectator will be dazzled by its luxuriant décor. The bright crimson, scattered with gold, draping the interiors of the boxes, the different on each level stucco arabesques, the Apollo and the Muses plafond and the enormous hand-cut crystal chandelier – all this contributes to the auditorium’s breath-taking impact. You can also climb up the stairs to the rehearsal new stage which is located right above the main sparkling chandelier. On our tour a unique chance is given to look into the workshop where the famous costumes of the Bolshoi are being made. Then you can enjoy walking around to see the former imperial foyer halls, which were decorated for Emperor Nicholas II coronation celebrations as well as the Beethoven hall, the Lobby, the Choral, Exhibition and the underground concert hall. The Bolshoi is the inseparable part of the city. And not to see the Bolshoi is not to feel Moscow. Metro tour After the Bolhoi Backstage Tour we take a brief walk (10 minutes at a leisurely pace) to Teatralnaya metro station, one of the oldest station, designed as a theater foyer. From there we take two stops down the green line to see one the most elegant stations Mayakovskaya with famous mosaics made by Russian artist Daineka One more stop along the same line and we see Belorusskaya station decorated with rare type of marble and onyx. Then we change to Belorusskaya circular line (up the steps and down the escalator) – the station with the ceiling mosaics representing themes from the life of the Belorus people. From there one stop and we are in Novoslobodskaya station – the only station with stained glass wall panels. Two more stops by train and we will see the largest station of Moscow metro – Komsomolskaya, with spectacular mosaic panels and crystal chandeliers. From there we again take the train, look at more stations on the circular (brown) line (Paveletzkay, or Taganskaya or Oktyabrskaya, depending on how many stations you want to see and how much time you want to spend there) and get off at Kievskaya station, and look at the mosaics featuring different episodes from the history of Ukraine, there we change to the blue radial line (again walking up and down the steps) to Kievskaya radial station, also decorated with Ukrainian folk motifs, from there take two stops by train to Arbatskaya with crystal chandeliers in the shape of flower bouquets. And from there finally one stop to Revolution Square, one of the oldest stations famous for 76 bronze statues. There we finish the tour, take the escalator up to exit the metro Lunch at a local restaurant featuring some signature Russia dishes Tour of Kremlin grounds, cathedrals, Armory Chamber and ticket for independent visit to Diamond Fund Kremlin - the former residence of Russian tsars, an architectural ensemble of unique beauty which took shape between the 15th and 20th centuries. Cathedral Square - the center of the Kremlin with the 15th century Assumption Cathedral, the main church of Russia, the 15th century Annunciation Cathedral, the private church of Russian tsars and the 16th century Cathedral of the Archangel, the burial place of the tsars. On the grounds of the Kremlin there are famous Tsar Cannon of the 16th century and Tsar Bell of the 18th century. The Armory Chamber The treasury of Russian tsars with unique collections of gold and silver items of the 12 - 19th centuries, Russian arms and armor of the 12 - 16th centuries, the state regalia, thrones, carriages and coronation dresses of the 16 - 19th centuries, as well as ambassadorial gifts of the 16 - 19th centuries. tickets for the independent visit to the Diamond Fund The Diamond Fund - a unique collection of gold and platinum nuggets, diamonds from Siberia as well as Crown Jewels of the 18 - 19th centuries. Pieces of modern jewelry made by Russian masters are also on display. Dinner at a local restaurant featuring some signature Georgian dishes complimented by folk concert June 11’ 19 – Tuesday Stalin’s Bunker – in Moscow there exists the secret bunker of soviet leader Josef Stalin. And now you will have the unique chance to visit the bunker of Stalin and see with your own eyes what was previously hidden from public, used to be a dark mystery. The bunker was to serve military mission and was built in the 30s of XX century. It was built on Stalin’s orders. The constructing was highly secret. That is why the building of stadium took place there. It was used by Stalin as an emergency command center during the years of the World War II. Exactly here soviet leaders discussed whether to leave Moscow for fascists or not. A 17 km secret passage was constructed and it had connections with the Kremlin. This military object was the part of so much spoken about Metro 2. At the present moment the bunker is a museum complex where you will find some personal belongings of Stalin and items connected with the war events. The biggest part of them is original. This construction has no analogues both in time schedule and scope of work. When you are there it seems as if the time has stopped here, and nothing has changed since that time. The bunker contains the huge conference room, where Stalin could receive a visit from 115 people with reports, the private office with the lounge, rooms on different floors. There are some documents in one of these rooms, which had become the museum exhibits. Lunch at preset menu Visit to Museum of contemporary history The Museum of Contemporary Russian History has an extensive collection (of over 2 million exhibits) that documents the country's political development over the last 150 years. All sorts of unique items including photos, posters, books, and documents look at and analyze the most important events in recent history - the museum even has the actual stones thrown at policemen by workers in the 1905 Revolution. There are also detailed and informative accounts of events since the fall of Communism City tour, incl. Red Square, St. Basil's cathedral (outside), GUM, Our Saviour Cathedral, New Maiden Convent (outside), Sparrow Hills, Moscow University, metro This evening we invite you to attend a folk show “Golden Ring” - sparkling ballet, virtuoso musicians, magnificent scenery. Russian soul lyrics, northern tunes, rattling cossaks songs and dances. June 12’ 19 – Wednesday Guided transfer to the airport / Railway Station Arrive in St. Petersburg, meet your private guide (s) at the Arrival Hall or platform Direct transfer to the Hermitage (stays open till 09:00pm on Wednesdays) The Peacock Clock is a unique thing, extremely sophisticated in terms of technical setup and is a real master-piece for its aesthetic value. Just imagine a complicated clock mechanism, made as far as 3 centuries ago, still operating not just as a clock, but as a thousand component gem of precious stones and metals (breath- taking beauty when even still) when set a-going displaying a sketch of wild life, with the huge central figure of the Peacock and smaller characters like wood creatures carved down to every minute detail coming to life to the melodious tune. Brief orientation tour of the Hermitage Arrive at hotel, check-in June 13’ 19 – Thursday 09:00 AM Meet your private guide at hotel, board your deluxe AC bus and leave for Peterhof Оn your way to Peterhof, alias Petrodvorets, admire the picturesque scenery running on both sides of the motorway. While making its way through Strelna, the bus will slow down when Konstantinovsky Palace, the Russian President’s Residence, comes into view. Further on have a glimpse of St. Peter and Paul Church on your left, sample of Byzantine style, and ginger houses, unparalleled wonders of the Russian Wooden Architecture. 10:00AM Early admission into the Grand Palace of Peter the Great. Here you gain an insight into the world of daily life and routine comforts of the Royal Family. And again you are marveling at the beauties and richness of every minute detail of décor. The formal halls and intimately-appointed chambers provide a glimpse into the daily lives of palace’s former residents. Situated on the ridge above the cascade is the magnificent Bolshoi Dvorets (Grand Palace), the work of Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the master of baroque. The palace overlooks the grounds below and has a magnificent view of the Gulf of Finland in the distance. Inside the palace, pause to admire the all-wood Oak Study Room of Peter’s original design. Continue to the luxurious interior of the Throne Room, featuring intricately inlaid parquet floors, elaborate ceiling moldings and chandeliers.